Biofortification is the process of increasing minerals and vitamins in edible parts of staple crops through conventional plant breeding, genetic engineering or agronomic practices. This program addresses hidden hunger in underserved communities across three continents.
Biofortification improves human nutrition and health. Biofortification is particularly impactful for smallholder farming families who eat mostly what they grow themselves and cannot afford diverse diets.
The target population of this program includes: - Smallholder farmers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America - Communities experiencing high rates of micronutrient deficiencies - Women and children who are most vulnerable to hidden hunger
How can biofortified crops improve both nutritional quality and agricultural yield across different regions and contexts?
This project explores the potential of biofortified crops to combat hidden hunger, offering practical solutions for food and nutrition security. By increasing the nutrient content in staple crops, biofortification addresses dietary deficiencies directly, creating sustainable impact in underserved communities. Furthermore, integrating biofortification into CGIAR and NARS breeding programs ensures scalable and long-lasting benefits for future generations.
The dataset used in this project comes from HarvestPlus and contains information on biofortified crops, including:
The dataset includes the following variables: - Crop name and food type - Micronutrient type and concentration (mg/kg) - Geographic distribution (country, continent) - Variety name and year of release - Agricultural yield (tons/ha)
Data was collected through: - Surveys of biofortification implementation programs - Breeding program reports and documentation - Field trials and agricultural performance assessments - Laboratory analysis of nutrient concentrations
The data represents: - Smallholder farming communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America - Regional breeding initiatives targeting nutrient-deficient areas - Diverse agroecological zones where staple crops are cultivated - Communities with documented micronutrient deficiencies